Theodoor van Thulden

Feldzeugmeister Baron von Atzél, Budapest, 1815;
Thence by descent until 1901;
Dr. Adolf Hommel (1851–1913), Zurich;
His sale, Zurich, Lempertz, 19-20 August 1909, lot 123 (as Peter Paul Rubens);
Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 8 December 2005, lot 226, where acquired by the present owner.

The canvas has been relined and the relining is still relatively sound. The paint surface is in overall fairly good condition. The entire outer edge of the canvas has been added later, probably towards the end of the 19th /early 20th century; the extension begins approx. 25cm from the lower edge where it is joined in tooth shaped fashion, approx. 10cm from both vertical edges and approx. 20cm from the upper edge. There is a seam down the centre of the original canvas (visible in the catalogue illustration). There is a restored vertical tear (approx. 30cm) towards the upper left corner. There a number of retouchings throughout, notably to the dog, the largest on his stomach (approx. 12 cm), to Adonis's legs, feet and torso and to Venus herself, notably to her right arm. The foreground has also been extensively restored and retouched. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals retouching along the length of the seam, some strengthening to the sky and further retouchings throughout.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Although he did train in Antwerp, Theodoor van Thulden is not thought to have been a pupil of Rubens. It was Rubens nonetheless who was the most dominant influence in his development and for whom he worked in the 1630s, for example on the designs for the Pompa Introitus Ferdinandi. The catalogue for the 1909 Lempertz sale states that the earliest known owner of the work, Feldzeugmeister Baron von Atzél, brought the painting in France, where van Thulden spent two years between 1631 and 1633.